"He tries to block everything at the rim," said FGCU fifth-year coach Joe Dooley, who has led the Eagles to back-to-back NCAA tournament berths. "He's got good timing and guys in the paint need to know where he is."

Thomas grinned.

"Sometimes, even in pickup, I've completely dominated some of the games," Thomas said. "Changed them."

Before a bit of a late spate of transfers by backups, Thomas was FGCU's lone must-get target as the Eagles would need only to replace now-graduated starting forwards Demetris Morant and Marc-Eddy Norelia and they had their own transfers waiting in the wings. The 3-star Rivals recruit from Kell, Georgia, committed to FGCU in August of 2016 and signed three months later.

It's a good thing the Eagles got him early because Thomas blew up to be called Georgia's 16th-best player. HoopSeen named him the top get in the Atlantic Sun and he chose the Eagles over "a couple" Power Five schools, two Atlantic 10 programs and other top-notch mid-majors.

That's despite Thomas breaking his right foot last November after averaging 11 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks as a Kell High junior. Thomas returned for his team's last game, rehabbed hard and now calls himself 100 percent.

He's grown since arriving to Alico Arena.

This is Dooley several weeks ago: "Great frame. Once he figures some things out he'll be dangerous. He's a terrific athlete for his size and weight. He's just young and inexperienced right now. He's a little bit raw skill-wise, but big guys don't get to simulate it in practice until they get to college."

The key concerns with Thomas were his footwork and offense. Both have come far.

This is Dooley — not exactly one to blow smoke — now: "His offense is definitely coming around. He's not afraid. He's country strong. I mean, he is a big, strong kid who wants to please and does everything right. We're really excited. He is a big-bodied, shot-blocking player."

Freshman forward Brian Thomas committed to and signed with Dunk City early.(Photo: By Tessa Mortensen)

The offense is getting there. Unlike Doyle, Gilmore, Scott and even Ernst, Thomas will be almost exclusively a paint scorer (like Simmons). He's refining moves and working hard with his feet.

"My offense is OK, but of course it will get better as I get the footwork and stuff down," Thomas said. "What I really stress is the defensive end and rebounding. I feel like I can be the best defender on the court."

Dooley often says of developing players that their "best days are in front" of them. That's especially true of the young Thomas, who carried a 3.6 GPA through high school.

But those could start happening soon after the season tips at home against Illinois State on Nov. 11.

"The good thing for him is he's playing against all the mature frontline guys and that's really going to help him," Dooley said. "Trey (Simmons' nickname) has done a really good job of mentoring him and trying to help him figure some things out. He's going to be a really good player. He's a big kid, and when he figures it all out, he's going to be really dangerous.

"And he's a smart kid, so I think he'll figure it all out pretty quickly."